Digestive well-being is much more important than we think. The intestinal flora (which is now called “microbiota”) is very much studied and we suspect it to be complicit in certain behavioral disorders or pathologies, neurological in particular. In 2013, an American study had already established a link between probiotics, specifically Bacteroides fragilis, and autism. French researchers have recently conducted a study involving the role of another probiotic: Lactobacillus reuteri.
A probiotic to reduce the symptoms of autism.
The probiotic that would have the particularity to reduce the symptoms of autism is a bacterium called Lactobacillus reuteri. It is a lactic acid bacterium naturally present in the gastrointestinal tract, in the oral cavity and on the vaginal mucosa. This probiotic is already used to relieve colic in infants.
Good to know! Probiotics are living microorganisms that are added as supplements to certain food products (yogurt, for example) or used as food supplements (by the way, our probiotic colon drink is vegan) and that have a beneficial effect on the health of the host.
What is the link between Lactobacillus reuteri and autism?
We now know that genetic mutations are linked to the severity of the disease. Indeed, genes of the SHANK family are involved in the development and functioning of neuronal circuits. The researchers conducted an experiment on the intestine of mice that had a mutation in the Shank3 gene.
These mice with this mutation have a compulsive repetitive behavior and avoid social interactions. In these mice, a decrease in the quantity of bacteria colonizing their intestine was observed. The researchers then rebalanced the intestinal flora of these mice by administering Lactobacillus reuteri, and saw their behavioral problems disappear.
Lactobacillus reuteri interacts with the nervous system via a neurotransmitter. We have seen that mutations of genes from the SHANK family are involved in the development and functioning of neuronal circuits. The use of probiotics would therefore be an essential element in the treatment of behavioral disorders associated with autism.
We are offering to try our probiotic colon drink!
